The 50 most important English proverbs

Every culture has a collection of wise sayings that offer advice about how to live your life. These sayings are called "proverbs". "Two wrongs don't make a right." When someone has done something bad to you, trying to get revenge will only make things worse. "The pen is mightier than the sword." Trying to convince people with ideas and words is more effective than trying to force people to do what you want. "When in Rome, do as the Romans." ct the way that the people around you are acting. This phrase might come in handy when you're traveling abroad notice that people do things differently than you're used to. "The s!ueaky wheel gets the grease." "ou can get better service if you complain about something. #f you wait patiently, no one's going to help you. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." $trong people don't give up when they come across challenges. They %ust work harder. "&o man is an island." "ou can't live completely independently. Everyone needs help from other people. "'ortune favors the bold." (eople who bravely go after what they want are more successful than people who try to live safely. "(eople who live in glass houses should not throw stones." )on't critici*e other people if you're not perfect yourself. "+ope for the best, but prepare for the worst." This seems pretty clear. ",etter late than never." This one's clear, too. ",irds of a feather flock together." (eople like to spend time with others who are similar to them. "-eep your friends close and your enemies closer." #f you have an enemy, pretend to be friends with them instead of openly fighting with them. That way you can watch them carefully and figure out what they're planning.

" picture is worth a thousand words." (ictures convey emotions and messages better than written or spoken e.planations. That's why (hrase /i. has illustrations "There's no such thing as a free lunch." Things that are offered for free always have a hidden cost. "There's no place like home." "our own home is the most comfortable place to be. ")iscretion is the greater part of valor." $ometimes it's important to know when to give up and run away, instead of always acting brave and maybe getting hurt. "The early bird catches the worm." "ou should wake up and start work early if you want to succeed. "&ever look a gift horse in the mouth." #f someone offers you a gift, don't !uestion it. ""ou can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs." When you try to do something great, you'll probably make a few people annoyed or angry. )on't worry about those people0 %ust focus on the good results. "1od helps those who help themselves." )on't %ust wait for good things to happen to you. Work hard to achieve your goals. ""ou can't always get what you want." )on't whine and complain if you don't get what you wanted. "2leanliness is ne.t to godliness." ,e clean. " watched pot never boils." #f something takes time to finish, don't watch it too closely because it will seem like it's taking forever. ",eggars can't be choosers." #f you're asking for a favor from someone else, you have to take whatever they give you. " ctions speak louder than words." 3ust saying that you'll do something doesn't mean much. ctually doing it is harder and more meaningful. "#f it ain't broke, don't fi. it."

)on't try to improve something that already works fairly well. "ou'll probably end up causing new problems. "(ractice makes perfect." "ou have to practice a skill a lot to become good at it. "Too many cooks spoil the broth." When there are too many people trying to lead and give their opinions, it's confusing and leads to bad results. 3obs and pro%ects should have one or two strong leaders. "Easy come, easy go." When you get money !uickly, like by winning it, it's easy to spend it or lose it !uickly as well. ")on't bite the hand that feeds you." #f someone's paying you or helping you out, you have to be careful not to make them angry or say bad things about them. " ll good things must come to an end." "ou can't keep having good luck or fun forever0 eventually it will stop. "#f you can't beat 'em, %oin 'em." When you try to change someone's behavior and it doesn't work, you might have to change instead. 'or e.ample, if you're trying to get your classmates to focus on studying but they want to party, maybe you should %ust party with them. "4ne man's trash is another man's treasure." )ifferent people have different ideas about what's valuable. "There's no time like the present." #f you need to do something, don't wait until later. )o it now. ",eauty is in the eye of the beholder." )ifferent people have different ideas about what's beautiful. "&ecessity is the mother of invention." When you're really in need, you think of creative solutions to your problems. " penny saved is a penny earned." $ave your money. "'amiliarity breeds contempt." When you're around someone for too long, you get tired of them and annoyed by them. ""ou can't %udge a book by its cover." Things sometimes look different than they really are. restaurant that looks old and

small might have ama*ing food, for e.ample. "1ood things come to those who wait." ,e patient. ")on't put all your eggs in one basket." +ave a backup plan. )on't risk all of your money or time in one plan. "Two heads are better than one." When two people cooperate with each other, they come up with better ideas. "The grass is always greener on the other side of the hill." (eople tend to want whatever they don't have. ")o unto others as you would have them do unto you." )on't do mean things to people. " chain is only as strong as its weakest link." #f one member of a team doesn't perform well, the whole team will fail. "+onesty is the best policy." )on't lie. " bsence makes the heart grow fonder." $ometimes it's good to be away from your partner, because it makes you want to see each other again. ""ou can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." #f you try to help someone, but they don't take your advice or offers, give up. "ou can't force someone to accept your help. ")on't count your chickens before they hatch." "our plans might not work out, so don't start thinking about what you'll do after you succeed. Wait until you've already succeeded, and then you can think about what to do ne.t. "#f you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." )on't trust other people to do important things for you. "ou have to do things yourself to control the !uality of the results.